Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 08, 2023
ADF&G News
- Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon, halibut), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. You can also purchase your license and dipnetting permits online at the ADF&G online store.
- Also, check out ADF&G's new gofishak interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips.
Personal Use Fishing
- The Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dipnet Salmon Fishery will open at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 18. As of Wednesday, June 7, a total of 144,395 salmon had passed the Miles Lake sonar counter approximately 70 miles downstream of the dipnet fishery, including more than 57,000 salmon from June 5-7. It typically takes salmon 10 days to two weeks to make it from the sonar counter to the dipnet fishery. The second dipnet opening for the week of June 19 will be announced on June 14th. Call the Chitina Personal Use Fishery Hotline at 907-822-5224 for more information on the Chitina dipnet fishery.
Sport Fishing
Freshwater species
- All lakes and streams are open with the exception of Paxson and Summit Lakes. The south end of Paxson Lake is now open but there is still ice on the north end of the lake. At Summit Lake, some water is beginning to appear around the lake’s edges but it will probably be another week before it is open.
- Arctic grayling have moved from their spawning areas and are probably well distributed in area streams and lakes while they keep moving to their preferred summering waters.
- Lake trout and burbot fishing should be excellent right now with fish starting to feed more heavily. Try fishing along the open water in Paxson and Summit Lakes between the shore and the floating ice. In Lake Louise and Susitna Lake, the fish should still be close to shore.
- Dolly Varden fishing at the mouth of Klutina Lake should be exceptionally good at this time of year. These Dollies get big and most are like little fat footballs.
- For a guide to where all the accessible fisheries are, check out Sport fishing Alaska rivers and lakes in the Upper Copper/Upper Susitna River Basin. This guide lists all the fisheries, species available and mile markers along all the major highways crossing the Upper Copper and Upper Susitna Area.
Salmon
- Sockeye and King salmon are moving up the Copper River. We are getting reports of sockeye salmon in the Klutina River already. This could be one of the best sockeye salmon runs for the Klutina in the last few years, so don’t miss out.
- The Gulkana River is still muddy and high but expect king salmon to be in the lower river in decent to good numbers after June 15. Commercial harvests of king salmon in the Copper River District showed an above average percentage of 6-year-old kings so maybe the big one is waiting for your bait. These older fish are usually the first ones up the river.
- The Miles Lake sonar is running about 100,000 fish short of preseason projections right now but numbers are picking up. As of Wednesday, June 7, a total of 144,395 salmon had passed the sonar counter approximately 70 miles downstream of Chitina, including more than 57,000 salmon from June 5-7. The commercial fishery is currently shut down to increase salmon passage at the sonar. Check on the numbers yourself at the ADF&G fish counts page.
Emergency Orders
Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements listed at the top of this report in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip. Also, be sure to review the 2023 Northern Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
Press Release
For more information
For more information, please call the Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309.